Attachment for watch-barrels



1-1. A. RIGGS. Attachment for Watch-Barrels.

No. 225,421. Patented Mar. 9,1880.

AZZE YZ: I jnven'zorl Mam film A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT A. RIGGS, OF CHELSEA, MICHIGAN.

ATTACHMENT FOR WATCH-BARRELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 225,421, dated March 9,1880.

I Application filed November 3, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERBERT A. RIGGS, ofChelsea, in the county of WVashtenaw and State of Michigan, haveinvented an Improvement in Watches, of which the following is aspecification.

The nature of my invention relates to certain new and usefulimprovements in the construction of watches, by means of which thebreaking of the mainspring and uprooting of the winding parts of stem,case, or hinge winding watches is prevented. Y

The invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangementof parts, so that when the mainspring is fully wound up a carelesscontinuation of turning the winding mech anism will not act upon thespring.

This invention is especially designed to entirely prevent the breakingof the mainspring and uprooting of the winding parts, as is frequentlythe case when the winding of the watch is done hurriedly or carelessly.

The following is a full, clear, and exact description of my improvement.

Figure l is a plan view of the parts composing my improvement. Fig. 2 isa central section, showing the mechanism after having performed itsintended action. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the watch-barrel. Fig. 4. is adetached perspective view of my clutch.

Like letters indicate like parts in each figure.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Arepresents a watch-barrel, provided with the arbor B, mainspring 0, andcap D, all of known construction. E is a two-forked slide, both forksbeing exactly alike, and having wedge-shaped ends a. This slide has uponits under side a pin, 1), which projects through the slot 0 into thebarrel Aand between the coils of the niainsprin g in such a manner thatthe pin is held between a single outer coil, the other coils of thespring all being on the side toward the barrel.

Between the forks of the slide and fitting will have no more effect onthe spring.

011 the the squared portion at of the arbor is a small ratchet-wheel, F.Above this is placed another ratchet-wheel, G, which is simply sleevedon the round part of the arbor. This ratchet-wheel Ghas a grooved face,0. In this groove engage the two forks f f of the maintaining-spring H,which is screwed to the barrel at g. These forks have studs or pins h onthe side toward the barrel. Thus it will be seen that the tworatchet-wheels F G form a clutch which, by means of themaintainingspring H, can be thrown into or out of gear.

When the watch is being wound up the main winding-wheel is acting uponthe ratchet G, which engages with the ratchet I thereby turning thearbor and ceiling the mainspring. As soon as the last coil of themainspring is coiling toward the center the pin 1) will be carriedalong, which moves the slide E, the wedgeshaped fork ends of which actupon the studs h of the 1naintaining-spring, which at the termination oftheir travel have thrown the clutch out of gear, and any further windingAs the coils gradually recede again the slide E travels back and themaiutaining-spring will again perfect the clutch.

What I claim as 'my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In .combination with the arbor of the mainspring and barrel of thewatch, a ratchet on said arbor with a ratchet-wheel andmaintaining-sprin g, substantially as described, and for the purpose setforth.

2. In combination with the barrel of the mainsprin g, provided with aslot, as described, the slide, provided with a pin operating in saidslot and the maintaining-spring, for the purpose of disengaging theratchets upon the arbor when the watch or mainspring is fully wound up.

HERBERT A. RIGGS.

Witnesses:

H. S. SPRAGUE, Tnno. S. DAY.

